Event Highlights: New Year, New Strategies for Success – Your Workforce, Reimagined
📅 January 21, 2025 | 📍 Vida Hotels and Resorts, Emirates Hills
Finnish Business Council together with AmCham Dubai, a member of the Global Network of American Chambers of Commerce (American Business Council), in partnership with Cigna Healthcare Middle East & Africa, brought together industry leaders and professionals to explore innovative strategies for fostering healthier, more resilient workplaces. The key takeaway? Employee well-being isn’t just a priority—it’s a business imperative with direct impact on the bottom line.
Leah Cotterill, CEO of Cigna Healthcare Middle East & Africa, shared compelling findings from Cigna’s latest survey, revealing that women in the UAE report higher stress levels than men, largely due to workplace and financial pressures. She underscored the importance of prioritizing mental health and providing targeted support for female employees. Key focus areas included addressing financial stress, loneliness, and sleep challenges, alongside actionable steps for companies to integrate well-being into their corporate strategies.
Panel discussion takeaways:
Moderated by Abeer Al Husseini (عبير الحسيني), Partner at Fragomen, the panel provided real-world insights on workforce well-being from industry experts:
🔹 Leah Cotterill (Cigna Healthcare Middle East & Africa) – Shared data-driven strategies for embedding wellness into organizational culture.
🔹 Tomasz Bortnik (Citi) – Highlighted the role of financial wellness in overall employee well-being and how employers can support their teams.
🔹 Scott Armstrong (mentl) – Addressed the importance of digital well-being, urging professionals to set boundaries and prevent burnout.
🔹 Dr. Marwa Monajid (American Hospital Dubai) – Emphasized the connection between self-care and professional performance, outlining ways workplaces can support employees facing anxiety, burnout, and physical challenges.
Canada Week in Dubai 2025: Celebrating Community and Charity together with Canadians, Swedes and Finns
Canada Week in Dubai 2025 is a special charity-focused celebration honoring Canada and the 40,000 Canadians living in the UAE, along with the wider community of hockey enthusiasts. This year marks two major milestones: the 20th anniversary of Canada Week and the 15th anniversary of Canada’s historic gold medal victories in men’s and women’s hockey at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Event Highlights:
Dates: March 4-9, 2025, across Dubai and the Northern Emirates, thoughtfully planned during the holy month of Ramadan.
Purpose: The event is dedicated to raising funds for cancer research in the UAE, with all proceeds supporting the Terry Fox Foundation’s local partner, the Al Jalila Foundation.
Activities: Canada Week will feature hockey games and clinics with NHL legends from Canada, Sweden, and Finland, Canadian cultural and entertainment showcases, a golf day, a memorable Iftar dinner, a Gala Reception, and more.
Tuesday, March 4 – Thursday, March 6 Daily from 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm: Hockey games at the iconic Dubai Mall hockey rink featuring retired NHL players from Canada, the US, Finland and Sweden, as well as community all-star teams.
Confirmed retired NHL players from Finland:
Jari Kurri, Teppo Numminen, Esa Tikkanen, Jere Lehtinen, Arto Malinen ja Pekka Rinne.
Friday, March 7 Canada Week charity golf tournament at Al Zorah Golf Club - designed by Nicklaus Design and managed by Troon Golf. Opportunity for participants to play with a Canada Week celebrity. Shot gun format.
Saturday, March 8 The Canada Week tradition of a dedicated kids hockey clinic with NHL stars will continue on Saturday, March 8 from 07:30 am – 09:45 am at Dubai Mall.
Come and join us for exciting hockey games at Dubai Mall! Admission is free and open to the public.
For more info, contact: mika.puustinen@broadfolio.com
Welcome our new member Soliqua Partners
Soliqua Partners is a premier technology and service supplier Partner, dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service across the Middle East region. Our expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including mining, minerals processing, metallurgy, chemical process industries, food and pharmaceutical sectors, and industrial automation. We collaborate with global technology leaders to provide state-of-the-art products, spare parts and services tailored to the unique needs of our clients.
At Soliqua Partners, we focus on technologies that enable water and energy savings and reduce operational costs while enhancing the productivity, helping our clients achieve greater efficiency and sustainability. We also improve the performance of our customers by providing products and service solutions for wear and corrosion protection, industrial transfer hoses and hose assemblies for handling slurries, liquids, and other wet and dry materials, as well as customer-specifically tailored and manufactured polymer products. Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction drives us to continually enhance our offerings and support our clients in achieving their business objectives.
-Produce, Protect & Prosper with Soliqua-
Contact:
Petri Kiljunen
General Manager
petri.kiljunen@soliquapartners.com
January 2025 Newsletter
Read it here
Welcome our new member Konsumea
Konsumea is a Dubai-based professional services firm specializing in comprehensive business setup, accounting, payroll, tax, and compliance solutions across UAE and the Middle East. Founded by seasoned professional services and management consulting experts from Northern Europe, each with over 20 years of global experience, Konsumea brings a wealth of industry knowledge and insight to every client engagement. Our Dubai-based team comprises 10 highly skilled professionals with extensive expertise and distinguished careers. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, where customer expectations continue to rise, Konsumea empowers companies and entrepreneurs—both locally and internationally—to adapt, grow, and succeed. Our tailored, high-quality solutions are crafted to meet unique business needs and deliver lasting impact.
Contact:
Welcome our new member LinnaCon
LinnaCon combines decades of leadership experience with a deep understanding of business growth and transformation to help companies succeed at every stage of their journey. Led by a seasoned CEO and financial advisor with a proven track record in high-growth environments and complex financing structures, we deliver strategic solutions that drive real results.
Our expertise includes securing funding, crafting financial strategies, and developing innovative business models, alongside hands-on implementation and vision execution. Whether your goal is to expand into new markets, streamline operations, or prepare for investor negotiations, we are your partner in achieving sustainable growth.
At LinnaCon, we don’t just consult—we collaborate. We bridge the gap between innovators and investors, ensuring that businesses communicate their true value in ways that resonate with key stakeholders.
Let’s turn challenges into opportunities and build a foundation for long-term success together.
Contact:
Mentorship Meetup with the Nordic Business Councils
On Tuesday, January 14th, mentors and mentees from the Nordic Business Councils came together for an inspiring mid-program meetup hosted by Nokia. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity to connect, share experiences, and plan for the final three months of the mentorship journey.
Shadi Sayed, Head of Business Development at Nokia, warmly welcomed the group and offered fascinating insights into Nokia’s forward-looking strategies. He highlighted AI’s transformative role in shaping the future of networks, emphasizing Nokia’s expertise across four key pillars: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud & Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. Shadi also shared Nokia’s impressive legacy, including 10 Nobel Prize-winning innovations and their commitment to sustainability by minimizing digital impact.
The evening continued with a thought-provoking session by Amar Lazazi, Head of Procurement at Nokia, who shared invaluable tips on negotiation skills. He emphasized the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity in building trust, resolving conflicts, and adapting to challenges.
A highlight of the meetup was the exchange of experiences and strategies among mentors and mentees. These conversations not only inspired participants for the remainder of the program but also reinforced the value of connections and friendships that will last well beyond the program’s conclusion.
Thank you to Nokia for hosting this memorable event and to all the mentors and mentees for their enthusiastic participation!
Join the Finnish Business Council Board!
Are you passionate about supporting Finnish businesses in the UAE and the region? The Finnish Business Council (FBC) is seeking new board members to help us fulfill our mission of empowering our members to seize opportunities, create networks, and establish their businesses in the UAE.
As a board member, you’ll play an essential role in driving FBC’s vision of being a dynamic and growing community that serves as the go-to resource for Finnish companies and individuals entering the Middle East market. Collaborating with The Finnish Embassy and Business Finland , you’ll contribute to providing valuable services and support to ensure the success and wellbeing of Finnish businesses and professionals in the region.
How to Apply:
To apply, you must represent a Finnish corporate member of the FBC. If you’re ready to make a difference and bring fresh ideas to FBC, please send your application, including a brief introduction and your motivation, to erika@fbcuae.fi
Help us build a stronger Finnish community in the UAE – we’d love to have you on board!
Team Finland Delegation Visited UAE with Prime Minister Orpo
H.E. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo led a Team Finland delegation to the United Arab Emirates from 13 to 15 January. The UAE, a key hub for trade, finance, tourism, and logistics in the Middle East, provides significant opportunities for Finnish businesses, particularly as the country continues to diversify its economy beyond oil. As the world’s seventh-largest oil producer, the UAE’s ambitious goals alignes well with Finland’s expertise.
Trade relations between Finland and the UAE have grown significantly in recent years, making the UAE Finland’s largest export market in the Gulf and Middle East region.
The delegation, organized by Business Finland, included representatives from 30 leading Finnish companies and organizations across various industries:
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd, Betolar Plc, Caprice Ltd, Creowave Ltd, Education House Finland Ltd, EduCluster Finland Ltd, Finnvera Plc, Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd, Finland Chamber of Commerce, KONE Corporation, Mirasys VMS Ltd, Nestor Cables Ltd, Nokia Corporation, Nurminen Logistics Plc, Nuuka Solutions Ltd, Patria ISP Ltd, ReOrbit Ltd, Riverrecycle Ltd, Tampere University Foundation, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Temet Group Ltd, TopForge Ltd, Unikie Ltd, VETQA Finland/Omnia Education Partnerships Ltd, Wärtsilä Corporation, and Xiphera Ltd.
The visit also celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and the UAE, marking a significant milestone in their strong and growing partnership.
